Daiya Seto Picks Ex-Swimmer & Classmate Ryuichiro Ura, 25, As His ‘New Mentor’

daiya-seto-Foto Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse 21 Dicembre 2019 Las Vegas - USA sport nuoto 2019 ISL - International Swimming League. Nella foto: SETO Daiya Photo Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse December 21, 2019 Las Vegas - USA sport swimming 2019 ISL - International Swimming League. In the picture: SETO Daiya
Daiya Seto - Photo Courtesy: Fabio Ferrari/LaPresse

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Daiya Seto, Japan’s top shot at gold in the pool at a home Tokyo 2020 Olympics in 2021, has stunned his sport and nation by appointing a former classmate as his new mentor in the pool.

Seto, who parted company last month with longtime coach Takayuki Umehara towards the end of a winter that saw him take down the World short-course 400m medley record racing for Energy Standard as the first Japanese swimmer in the International Swimming League last year, and the Asian 200m butterfly standard, will be guided towards a home Games by former swimmer Ryuichiro Ura, Seto’s classmate at sports powerhouse Saitama Sakae High School, according to reports in Japan.

Umehara had guided the multiple world record-holder since elementary school and celebrated the 400m medley World title record three times, in 2013, 2015 and again last year at Gwangju 2019. The swimmer and coach have amassed 28 international podiums for Japan, among them nine World titles and eight gold medals at Pan Pacific, Asian Games and Universiade events.

Seto’s Olympic tally stands at the bronze he claimed in the 400m medley at Rio 2016.

A source now tells Kyodo News that 26-year-old Seto, reigning world champion in the 200 and 400m medley, has opted for an age peer as his next mentor.

Ura, 25, broke multiple junior high school swimming records as a member of the same relay teams as Daiya Seto and fellow Olympian Kosuke Hagino in his racing days. Ura was also a member of the JSS Moroyama Swimming School along with Seto and is said to have a good understanding of his temperament.

The postponement of the Olympic Games by a year due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic led to Seto rethinking his plans. His top decision was to leave Umehara, saying at the time:

“Sometimes you have to challenge yourself by taking a different approach, rather than repeating the same things over again.”

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